Andersens_Fairy_Tales_NT.pdf

Andersen’s Fairy Tales

Hans Christian Andersen

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Andersen’s Fairy Tales

THE EMPEROR’S NEW

CLOTHES

Many years ago, there was an Emperor, who was so

excessively fond of new clothes, that he spent all his

money in dress. He did not trouble himself in the least

about his soldiers; nor did he care to go either to the

theatre or the chase, except for the opportunities then

afforded him for displaying his new clothes. He had a

different suit for each hour of the day; and as of any other

king or emperor, one is accustomed to say, ‘he is sitting in

council,’ it was always said of him, ‘The Emperor is sitting

in his wardrobe.’

Time passed merrily in the large town which was his

capital; strangers arrived every day at the court. One day,

two rogues, calling themselves weavers, made their

appearance. They gave out that they knew how to weave

stuffs of the most beautiful colors and elaborate patterns,

the clothes manufactured from which should have the

wonderful property of remaining invisible to everyone

who was unfit for the office he held, or who was

extraordinarily simple in character.

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‘These must, indeed, be splendid clothes!’ thought the

Emperor. ‘Had I such a suit, I might at once find out what

men in my realms are unfit for their office, and also be

able to distinguish the wise from the foolish! This stuff

must be woven for me immediately.’ And he caused large

sums of money to be given to both the weavers in order

that they might begin their work directly.

So the two pretended weavers set up two looms, and

affected to work very busily, though in reality they did

nothing at all. They asked for the most delicate silk and

the purest gold thread; put both into their own knapsacks;

and then continued their pretended work at the empty

looms until late at night.

‘I should like to know how the weavers are getting on

with my cloth,’ said the Emperor to himself, after some

little time had elapsed; he was, however, rather

embarrassed, when he remembered that a simpleton, or

one unfit for his office, would be unable to see the

manufacture. To be sure, he thought he had nothing to

risk in his own person; but yet, he would prefer sending

somebody else, to bring him intelligence about the

weavers, and their work, before he troubled himself in the

affair. All the people throughout the city had heard of the

wonderful property the cloth was to possess; and all were

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anxious to learn how wise, or how ignorant, their

neighbors might prove to be.

‘I will send my faithful old minister to the weavers,’

said the Emperor at last, after some deliberation, ‘he will

be best able to see how the cloth looks; for he is a man of

sense, and no one can be more suitable for his office than

be is.’

So the faithful old minister went into the hall, where

the knaves were working with all their might, at their

empty looms. ‘What can be the meaning of this?’ thought

the old man, opening his eyes very wide. ‘I cannot

discover the least bit of thread on the looms.’ However,

he did not express his thoughts aloud.

The impostors requested him very courteously to be so

good as to come nearer their looms; and then asked him

whether the design pleased him, and whether the colors

were not very beautiful; at the same time pointing to the

empty frames. The poor old minister looked and looked,

he could not discover anything on the looms, for a very

good reason, viz: there was nothing there. ‘What!’ thought

he again. ‘Is it possible that I am a simpleton? I have never

thought so myself; and no one must know it now if I am

so. Can it be, that I am unfit for my office? No, that must

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not be said either. I will never confess that I could not see

the stuff.’

‘Well, Sir Minister!’ said one of the knaves, still

pretending to work. ‘You do not say whether the stuff

pleases you.’

‘Oh, it is excellent!’ replied the old minister, looking at

the loom through his spectacles. ‘This pattern, and the

colors, yes, I will tell the Emperor without delay, how

very beautiful I think them.’

‘We shall be much obliged to you,’ said the impostors,

and then they named the different colors and described the

pattern of the pretended stuff. The old minister listened

attentively to their words, in order that he might repeat

them to the Emperor; and then the knaves asked for more

silk and gold, saying that it was necessary to complete

what they had begun. However, they put all that was

given them into their knapsacks; and continued to work

with as much apparent diligence as before at their empty

looms.

The Emperor now sent another officer of his court to

see how the men were getting on, and to ascertain

whether the cloth would soon be ready. It was just the

same with this gentleman as with the minister; he surveyed

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